Not everyone in Michigan prefers a passenger vehicle such as an SUV, sedan or pickup truck as a mode of transportation. If you prefer a motorcycle, you are not alone. However, your preference requires you to follow certain additional rules. Is wearing a helmet one of them?
The answer is simple if you are under the age of 21 because you must wear a helmet. If you fail to do so, you can receive a ticket. However, the rules are not quite as clear if you are over the age of 21. The law does require you to wear a helmet, but does include some exceptions.
If you carry at least $20,000 in medical benefits for you as a first party in addition to the required motorcycle operator insurance, you do not have to wear a helmet as a driver or passenger. You also do not have to wear one if you pass a safety course approved by the state of Michigan. Finally, if you have had your motorcycle endorsement for a minimum of two years, you are not required to wear a helmet when you ride. If you intend to rely on any of these exceptions to the helmet law, you will want to make sure you carry the proof you need in case a police officer pulls you over.
Few would dispute the fact that wearing a motorcycle helmet increases safety for motorcycle riders. However, you may not want to wear one for whatever reason and you could end up with an expensive ticket if a police officer pulls you over and you cannot prove you meet an exception during the stop. Instead of simply paying the ticket, you may want to take the time to appear in court to clear up the matter since any negative information on your driving record could come back to haunt you at some point in the future.